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A woman who admitted stealing a doctor’s identity to fraudulently gain work treating patients throughout England has been jailed for two years and four months.

Oluwadamilola Opemuyi, 29, formerly of Bridgeside Mews, Maidstone, used the doctor’s details alongside a number of false documents to find employment through a locum agency.

From 12-23 January 2015 she treated patients at three separate locations in Essex and Liverpool, as well as at two prisons on the Isle of Sheppey.

Opemuyi’s crimes came to light when she was arrested at a pharmacy in Maidstone on after attempting to collect two prescriptions she had written for herself.

She was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court, having pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation, three counts of forgery and two counts of possessing a false identity document with intent.

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The new health chief for east Kent - where three major hospitals are in special measures - has spoken for the first time about the challenges he faces.

Troubleshooter Chris Bown - who's being paid just under £300,000 for a year's work - says patients should not be worried because standards of healthcare are good. But, he says, there are serious internal issues to be tackled - including low morale and a culture of managerial bullying.

And then - there's the controversial plan to have just one A&E unit for a population of 700 thousand.

David Johns interviewed him for this special report. This is the full-length interview (approx 18 mins)

She's the fourth chief executive in six years at the failing Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent. Lesley Dwyer has spoken for the first time about her vision for the future and promised major improvements in one hundred days at what's been called the worst performing hospital in the country. Tom Savvides has this report.

Patients say they've been forced to wear hats, scarves and blankets on a hospital ward in Kent after the heating broke down.
Reg Hansell, a dialysis patient from Shepherdswell in Kent, told us that up to forty vulnerable patients a day have been putting up with unacceptable cold as they received dialysis treatment at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Sarah Saunders spoke to Reg about his experience.

Hospitals in east Kent are currently extremely busy, caring for large numbers of people who are seriously ill.

The onset of winter weather has resulted in a surge in attendances at A&E particularly by older people and people with lung problems, many of whom need to be admitted for inpatient care.

The NHS has robust plans to provide the right treatment for people who are seriously ill but is appealing to people who don’t have a serious or life-threatening illness or injury to avoid going to A&E and to seek care elsewhere.

A&E under pressure Credit: Press Assocation

It is estimated that between 15 and 25 per cent of people attending A&E could be treated by another NHS service.

If you have a health problem and are not sure what to do or who to contact, please use the Health Help Now web app which lists services and gives health advice and information for east Kent: www.healthhelpnow-nhs.net.

If you need medical help fast but it is not a 999 emergency, ring NHS 111.

If people have had a serious accident or consider their condition to be life-threatening, then A&E may well be the right place to go and we would encourage them to do that.

But we still see thousands of people every year attending our A&Es with symptoms that could be treated at home, by a GP or pharmacist or at a minor injuries unit.

We are asking you if it’s not urgent to stay away from A&E and keep it free for those who really need the specialist care it provides.